The GSMA today announced the first speakers for the 2019 Mobile 360 Series – West Africa conference, which will take place 16-17 April at the Radisson Blu Abidjan Airport Hotel in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The event sponsors include Mastercard (Headline Sponsor), Visa (Industry Sponsor) and Intelsat (Supporting Sponsor).“The mobile industry is playing a major role in leading digital, financial and social inclusion in many African countries by providing access to essential information and services,” said, John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA Ltd. “We are excited to be returning to West Africa for a third time to continue examining what is needed to overcome critical roadblocks in technology, governance, business models and investment. The event will provide an invaluable opportunity for attendees to share their experiences and expand the positive impact of mobile throughout this vibrant region.”
Mobile 360 – West Africa will take a look at the role of the Digital Citizen – questioning what citizens of the future want as the number of active users and investment continues to grow. The 2018 event focused on who is leading the digital revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2019, GSMA builds on this and looks at who benefits from the digital revolution. What impact will digital have on the job market, content creation, commercial trends and what are the key stepping-stones for creating a digital society that is inclusive and secure for the future?

Governments in Asia can expand the region’s digital economy and unlock further socio-economic benefits for their citizens by removing unnecessary restrictions on the movement of data internationally, according to a new report released by the GSMA today at the Mobile 360 – Digital Societies conference in Bangkok. The study, ‘Regional Privacy Frameworks and Cross-Border Data Flows’, reveals that striking the right balance in the region’s data privacy regulations could significantly enhance economic activity and future innovation in 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). Over the past decade, international data flows have increased global GDP by 10.1 per cent, and their annual contribution to global GDP has already surpassed US $2.8 trillion1 – a larger share than the global trade in goods. The ability to transfer, store and process data enables commerce, spurs innovation, and drives the development of new technologies, platforms, services and infrastructure.Although the Asia Pacific region has made good progress in the development of data privacy frameworks that protect consumers while also allowing data to flow across borders, the report highlights that variances in data privacy laws across countries is holding back trade and innovation. The report also calls for better links at a regional level between Asia’s two main privacy frameworks – the ASEAN Framework on Personal Data Protection and the APEC Privacy Framework – to enable cross-border data flows.
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with over 350 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.

The GSMA today issued a new report, ‘The Industrial IoT in Greater China’, highlighting how the region is poised to lead the global Industrial IoT (IIoT) market. The in-depth report draws on interviews with mobile operators including Asia Pacific Telecom Group, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Far EasTone and Taiwan Mobile who outline how the combination of fast internet speeds, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and the IoT is transforming the region’s industrial sector. GSMA Intelligence estimates that there will be 13.8 billion IIoT connections globally by 2025. Greater China accounts for approximately 4.1 billion of these connections or a third of the global market.“These new technologies will fundamentally alter the way we live and work, intelligently connecting virtually every device, making our cities smarter and our lives easier and more productive,” commented Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA. “China is betting big on the IIoT to increase productivity and drive efficiencies by streamlining and automating manufacturing processes via internet connectivity. Backed by positive government support, China is set to become the world’s leader.” The IIoT, will increase productivity by combining AI, cloud computing and advanced analytics to automate manufacturing processes via internet connectivity. It will enable factories to monitor and interpret data from production lines and complex machinery in real time to anticipate faults, manage infrastructure and mitigate risk. The captured data will drive efficiencies, optimise productivity and decrease costs in many important economic sectors beyond manufacturing, such as energy and telecoms. China is also making advances in the area of AI which, with machine learning, will help factories and businesses manage complex processes and drive innovation.

Asia Pacific is on track to become the world’s largest 5G region by 2025, led by pioneering 5G markets such as Australia, China, Japan and South Korea, according to the latest edition of the GSMA’s Mobile Economy report. Launches of commercial 5G networks in these markets beginning next year will see the Asia region reach 675 million 5G connections by 2025, more than half of the global 5G total expected by that point. Asia’s move to state-of-the-art mobile broadband networks reflects the mobile ecosystem’s growing value to the region’s economy. According to the report, Asia’s mobile industry added $1.5 trillion in economic value last year, equivalent to 5.4 per cent of regional GDP.
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.

The GSMA today announced the nominees for the 2018 Asia Mobile Awards. Winners of the “AMO Awards” will be honoured in presentations during the Mobile World Congress Shanghai conference, as well as an AMO Awards cocktail. Mobile World Congress Shanghai will take place 27-29 June at the Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre (SNIEC).“Congratulations to all nominees for the 2018 Asia Mobile Awards,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. “The AMOs put a spotlight on the technologies, products, services, companies and individuals that are playing a leading role in the development of the Asia mobile industry. We wish all those shortlisted the very best of luck and look forward to celebrating our industry’s innovation at Mobile World Congress Shanghai.” For 2018, 102 nominees have been shortlisted for 14 awards across seven categories: “Mobile Tech”, “Consumer”, “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, “Device”, “4YFN”, “Social Good” and “Outstanding Achievement”. The AMO Awards are judged by more than 60 world-leading independent experts, analysts, journalists, academics and, in some cases, mobile operator representatives. The winners of the AMOs will be unveiled in presentations across the Mobile World Congress Shanghai conference programme, as well as a cocktail reception on Wednesday, 27 June; full details of the schedule and presentations are available at http://www.mwcshanghai.com/conference-programmes/asia-mobile-awards-2018/asia-mobile-awards-onsite-presentations/.

The mobile industry in West Africa is forecast to contribute more than $50 billion annually to the region’s economy by 2022, according to a new GSMA study published today at the ‘Mobile 360 – West Africa’ event being held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The new report, The Mobile Economy: West Africa 2018, calculates that the region’s mobile ecosystem contributed $37 billion in value last year, equivalent to 6.5 per cent of GDP1, and will grow to $51 billion (7.7 per cent of GDP) within five years. The economic contribution over this period will be spurred by strong subscriber growth and the move to mobile broadband networks and services. “Today’s report demonstrates the vital role West Africa’s mobile ecosystem is playing in driving economic growth and empowering citizens across the region, as well as in delivering against many of the targets of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” said John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA. “However, further work is required as more than half of West Africa’s citizens are not yet connected to a mobile service, excluding them from the socio-economic benefits that mobile delivers.”
At the end of 2017, there were 176 million unique mobile subscribers2 across the West Africa sub-region, which comprises the 15 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)3. This is equivalent to a penetration rate of 47 per cent of the region’s population, up from just 28 per cent at the start of the decade. Strong subscriber growth is forecast to continue over the coming years; 72 million additional mobile subscribers are expected to be added in West Africa by 2025, lifting subscriber penetration to 54 per cent. Much of this growth is attributable to the demographic situation across the region, as large youth populations are expected to take out mobile subscriptions as they reach adulthood. According to the report, more than 40 per cent of the population in many countries across Sub-Saharan Africa are below the age of 16.Meanwhile, the transition to mobile broadband in West Africa is being driven by the expansion of 3G and 4G networks, lower data tariffs and the increasing affordability of smartphones. 3G networks now cover two-thirds of the regional population and 4G adoption is also rising rapidly. As of March 2018, there were 29 live 4G (LTE) networks in nine countries across West Africa, six of which have launched in the last year. 3G and 4G together accounted for 36 per cent of West African mobile connections in 2017 and are forecast to rise to 94 per cent of the total by 2025. Local operators are expected to spend $8 billion (capex) over the next two years building out and upgrading their networks.

The GSMA today released a new report outlining the rapid growth of the Bangladesh mobile industry over the last decade, which now places it as the fifth largest mobile market in Asia Pacific. The GSMA Intelligence country overview also highlights some of the obstacles that may hinder the government’s efforts to achieving its Vision 2021 goals, including affordability of mobile services, taxation and spectrum pricing. Complementing this study, the GSMA also released the findings of a report it commissioned from EY on the potential economic impact of tax reform on the Bangladesh mobile industry.
“It’s clear that the mobile industry plays a crucial role in supporting the achievement of the government’s Vision 2021 and Digital Bangladesh initiatives, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mobile technology has and will continue to have a positive impact on the people of Bangladesh, and can accelerate Bangladesh’s progress as a digital society,” said Alasdair Grant, Head of Asia Pacific for the GSMA. “The country still faces a significant digital divide however, and steps must be taken to enable the right conditions for mobile internet connectivity to flourish in Bangladesh.” With 85 million unique mobile subscribers as of the end of 2017, more than half the country’s citizens now have access to essential services. However, despite 3G networks covering 93 per cent of the Bangladeshi population, mobile internet uptake is still low, at 21 per cent in 2017. Prioritising efforts to overcome barriers to adoption, such as network quality, availability of spectrum at affordable prices, taxation, affordability of services, lack of usability and skills, and locally relevant content, will be key to closing the digital access gap.

The GSMA today announced the winners of its inaugural Mobile World Scholar Challenge. New for Mobile World Congress 2018, the Mobile World Scholar Challenge is a video-based competition designed to discover and highlight ground-breaking new technologies developed at universities around the globe.“Embracing new ideas is the key to innovation and growth, be it an economy, an industry, a company, charity or individual,” said John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA Ltd. “At Mobile World Congress, we are constantly looking to showcase cutting-edge ideas poised to impact the mobile world, and the winners of this first Mobile World Scholar Challenge certainly represent this. Our congratulations to all of the winners, as well as everyone who submitted their innovations for consideration.” Challenge participants submitted short-form videos that promote the science behind and potential use cases for their technology research. After a judging panel reviewed dozens of submissions from universities on five continents, the GSMA awarded five Gold Prizes and three Silver Prizes. All winners receive a cash award and their videos will be presented at Mobile World Congress, and Gold Prize winners will attend Mobile World Congress 2018 as guests of the GSMA.

New Delhi. The GSMA today announced the appointment of Manoj Misra as the GSMA’s new Senior Public Policy Director for India. Misra, who was most recently General Manager and Head of Regulatory & External Affairs for Vodafone India, takes on his new role effective immediately, reporting to Emanuela Lecchi, Head of Public Policy, Asia Pacific. Misra will work with the GSMA’s operator members in identifying opportunities that will advance the development of the mobile communications industry in India.“Manoj Misra brings to the GSMA a combination of deep market knowledge and broad experience in the telecommunication sector, both of which will be critical as he works with GSMA members to identify opportunities and implement strategies and initiatives that would benefit the local mobile industry,” said Alasdair Grant, Head of Asia Pacific, GSMA. “His appointment comes at a critical time for the development of public policy in India, and his experience will add depth to the ongoing debate about fundamental industry issues, including the future regulatory regime, treatment of data, improvements to socio-economic development that the industry can make and the cost-efficient deployment of networks.” Manoj Misra joins the GSMA from Vodafone India, which is the Indian subsidiary of UK-based Vodafone Group plc, the world’s second-largest mobile phone company, and the second largest provider of telecommunications services in India. As General Manager and Head of Regulatory & External Affairs, Misra engaged with government officials and national regulators to lobby and support Vodafone’s commercial activities, while he undertook relationship building and public affairs work with government and public authorities Prior to Vodafone, Misra was Deputy Advisor (Financial Analysis) for Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the national regulator of the telecommunications sector in India. At TRAI, he developed cost based pricing models for telecommunications network services, advised on matters of revenue share and examined issues related to competition. Misra holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Lucknow, India, and is a Chartered Accountant with The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), New Delhi.